Find out why we need your help this Christmas and beyond

Sarah Riddlestone

This Christmas we have been able to fund several community projects and events to help prevent the people we support from being socially isolated or lonely over the festive season.

This has been possible thanks to donations made towards our Social Isolation Appeal by The Clothworkers’ Foundation and generous individuals like yourselves.

Here are some of the projects made possible by your donations this Christmas

One of our services in York, The Boot Shop, hosted their annual carol service and this year was extra special as they were celebrating their 20th anniversary. Crowds enjoyed readings and a spectacular performance of The Twelve Days of Christmas by The Boot Shop, while being encouraged to try and sing it faster than them – and backwards! There was also singing and signing by the local primary school, and a performance from the secondary school orchestra. Following the service, there was time to reflect and have a chat over a hot cup of homemade soup and a mince pie, and a chance to peruse craft stalls in the local hall.

In Richmond-upon-Thames, they held a community treasure hunt leading to the town hall, where participants found market stalls packed with homemade produce, some of which was created by people we support.

More than 40 people attended a Christmas disco in Oxfordshire at a local centre. It began with a mince pie and Christmas decoration-making workshop. There were also guest appearances from Santa Claus and a local band that volunteered to play.

Santa Claus in Richmond

Over in Folkestone, The Community Network are hosting a Christmas open mic night this evening, with soup and a log fire in the garden too!

As well as these lovely festive events, there are plenty of other projects going on across the UK. For instance, fortnightly tea mornings are bringing people we support together with residential care homes for the elderly; our very own UR Consultants are going to be providing training to local authorities and businesses on how to prevent social isolation; a community hub in York is being set up; and a Valentine's event is being organised in Bradford.

This is all thanks to your kind donations.

Community isn’t just for Christmas

But we mustn’t stop there! With almost 400 services across the UK, it is incredibly important you help us meet our £10,000 target and prevent as many people as possible from feeling socially isolated within their communities. So please dig deep today and donate to help us continue projects like these all year round.

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